Tsu Domain

The Tsu Domain was a domain of the Tokugawa Shogunate ruled by the Todo clan.

History
The Todo clan, the rulers of the domain of Tsu, could not boast a proud samurai lineage, like many other great families of Japan. Its origins were in fact quite modest. Takatora Todo was an ashigaru, a peasant serving in the infantry during the great wars of the Sengoku Period. But just as well started powerful general Hideyoshi Hashiba, widely respected as one of the big three that united Japan. Todo Takatora was wise enough in the battle of Sekigahara to side with the Tokugawa, for which the award was granted a fief Tsu, constituting a large part of the province of Iga and Ise.

Tsu led far-sighted policy, seemingly supporting the shogunate until the very end. During the Battle of Toba-Fushimi the Todo sided with the Choshu and Satsuma districts, and thus - the empire. Todo was assured when the imperial forces had a good strategic position, enabling the continuation of the march on Kyoto.